I searched the site and I couldn't find any posts on this so here goes.

I marched bass 1 this year and halfway through the season my doctor noticed my rib cage stuck out on one side. So he made me bend over and he noticed an extreme curve in my spine. Turns out its about 40 degrees curved. Thats pretty bad. I finished the season and got a back brace that I wear at home. I didn't get the scoliosis from carrying the drum, but it could make it worse. The good part is you can't tell it's curved unless I'm sitting or bending over.

My point is, I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing any back problems and what you guys do about it and if you got it from carrying the drum. If you feel like saying any other problems you acquired from playing bass, do tell. I'm curious what everyone else is going through.

Ever since I started playing bass, I've had really bad back pains, but it's a sacrifice I learn to live with. Bengay icy hot patches are my best friend during marching season. It really helps ease the pain.

Another thing I like is when one of my friends steps on my back and cracks it. It really gets the kinks out. But make sure you have a kinda light person so you don't end up hurting yourserlf, of course.

Just things like that along with simple back massages help.

We have some crazy good back massagers in our band. We get these huge trains... I had problems in pit when I played vibe. but that was a combination of the pedal being too high and our instructor duct taping my foot to it. and the carring around of huge speakers. The drums really aren't too bad besides the fact that the carry digs into my shoulder blades. But i'm not complaining.

Thats wierd, our tenors have back problems, but i've carried the 5th bass for 3 years and have never had any serious pain. and i'm anything but musculuar

Luckily, i've never had any more that the regular back-ache when first starting to carry a drum for a long time again....

And since you ask about any other problems...

This summer held lots of health problems for me, first it started with bronchitis during everydays, which is never easy to recover from, and then once that was gone, i was just vomiting a whole lot. It got to the point where i puked every single day, and i believe the day before semifinals i actually puked like 15 times that one day. It was rediculous, but i couldn't take any time to try and recover or anything, as part of a deal i made. Well, it turns out time to recover wouldn't have helped anything, because the problem turned out to be that i have a hernia near my small intestine, which basically put my intestines in the wrong place, and with a drum on, it completely cut off the flow to my stomach. It could've gotten VERY serious, and it came incredibly close, with me going to the hospital 2 times.... but thankfully i'm okay, and now all i need is a bit of surgery before everythings okay again.

Aww man thats terrible. I hope the surgery goes well. =]

Do those bengay things stick to you?

I've had back problems marching Tenors so far and it has made my scoliosis worse for my spine towards the top, but I've just stopped caring about it. I suck it up and quit complaining. We also got some great new harnesses and I kept mine loose so I can adjust it on the spot. hehehe

Yes, the Bengay patches stick to you. You gotta make sure to really press down so they stay. They work wonders, I promise.

I know that having really good posture while carrying the drum. If you lean over a lot, or lean to a side, i know that that is really bad for your back. Its the same for anybody who carries a drum. You need to fill the carrier as best as possible with your chest and back and then make sure that you stand up straight it may suck for a little while but it is a lot better for you and it will actually develop your muscles in your shoulders and back a lot better. I marched bass for two years and whenever I started to have bad posture I had to force myself to stand up straight. But if you already have back problems like scholiosis then you might what to consider a different instrument if it is causing you serious health problems and I know that sucks but you are young and your health is more important.

well, i've never had problems; but for popping the back (which helps a ton) get someone taller that you to bear hug you from the back, pick you up about a foot, and then drop you to a sudden jolt.... thats what i do atleast

You're not supposed to crack your back because it releases spinal fluids that you need.

Just sayin'.

Who told you that about cracking your back? My friend, who is a doctor told me that when you crack your back or any knuckles it's actually pretty good for you and you release nitrogent that gets trapped in your joints after a while. The myth about cracking causing arthritis and what not is completely false, if anything it can prevent arthritis. Besides, why does my father's chiropractor crack my dad's back?

Anyway, back on the topic, our freshman bass drummers always wanted to lean fowards when they stand for a while, but we always told them to stand up straight and didn't let them take off their drums. Of course when the BD came around he told us we couldn't do that, but it was too late then, they knew they weren't allowed to, and now they don't have a problem with it. Hey, maybe their spines are shaped like coat hangers, but they don't complain.

When I started marching tenors it felt MUCH heavier than when I played bottom bass. Anyway, I used to practice sitting down with the drums on the floor and I used to take them off at practice, but now I practice standing up and I play through the pain, and I rarely feel the need to bend over or take off my drum now. Especially since I march snare, its like cake now.

Ummm torn ligaments on both sides of my back and jammed vertebrate and nerves in my lower back from my tenors (55pounds)

In general, if you don't have any pre-existing condition (scoliosis), as long as you use good posture, just wear the drum snugglebunny to get used to it, and eventually you can wear it all day with little to no soreness. Posture is crucial, though.

Last year my back was killing me because I wasn't used to the weight of the bass drum yet.

After about a month I started to get used to it and it hasn't really ever been a problem for me since.

I never really could do anything about it hurting besides sleep.

When I started marching bass 4 this year, I would always go home with back pains. As the season progressed, I noticed that drum became easier to carry. If the pain doesn't get better like that, it could be because your carrier is out of place, and another important thing is to not lean back, because all the weight from your drum goes directly to your lower back muscles. It feels better for the first few seconds, but it hurts even more than before later.

Ask other people whether you're standing up straight or not. It sounds ridiculous, but sometimes you won't even realize you're leaning a tad back, which can wreak absolute havok on your spine. Also, try to never take off your drum, especially during band camp. Not only will you get used to the weight, but you'll get used to having your center of gravity moved way out in front of you and marching will get a LOT easier

This past summer my back would hurt a lot but the thing that nagged me the most was how my carrier dug into my lower stomach right inside the hip bone. It was only on the right side and we couldn't find a way to fix it. I think it pinched a never or something because during all days, my right thigh got numb. It would be numb all the time, even during breaks when my drum wasn't on. And I still get hints of my thigh being numb today! I got to see what I can do about that.

This is why I built carbon fiber marching drums,snare and quad so I could still march.

my back begin to hurt every year but afther the fisrt week i dont feel it anymore

One of the leading causes of back issues in the battery is poor posture and "leaning back" with your drums on. Just say no to leaning back. Stand up straight you'll thank me later.

That means don't listen to Dem Franchise Boyz

My upper back into my neck was really hurting yesterday and today a little. Couldn't march at practice because it just made it worse and we have a competition today. Hope it won't bug me today.

I haven't had anything like that, though i know with scoliosis, chiropractors help A LOT. You should check into that...

Hmm I think with that case my the other day I just slept on it wrong, I'm fine now. Thanks for the tip with the harness though. I think mine actually does need to be adjusted a bit (need to get around to doing it).

I think I'm a walking disaster area . . . 2 years of 5th bass and then marching Hexes this year (quints with the double spock). I don't have back problems, but my neck is a giant muscle knot that nothing's helping . . . any ideas? I've tried Icy Hot and Termacare and the rest, but they don't help.

after... 9 years of playing marching percussion, 7 of them on quads, I have ridiculous muscles in my lower back. Most people have very weak muscles in their lower back, which can lead to back problems later in life, so as long as you don't screw your back up while holding a drum, it's probably a positive thing.

I'm probably going to be in a wheelchair by the time I'm 30. But, I can't give up playing.